Interpret the significance of the following indices related to severe weather fo

Question

Interpret the significance of the following indices related to severe weather for the below weather event. For example, seek out critical values for levels during the occurrence of severe weather. Compare these with values observed in the sounding.

LIFT (lifted index):

KINX (K-index):

CAPE (convective available potential energy):

CINS (convective inhibition):

72440 SGF Springfield 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 40 30 20 12Z 25 May 2011 10 10 20 30 40 University of Wyoming SLAT 37.23 SLON -93.38 SELV 387.0 SHOW -9.01 LIFT 7.56 LFTV 8.23 SWET 6034 KINX 18.10 CTOT 29.90 VTOT 32.90 TOTL 62.80 CAPE 1692. CAPV 1845 CINS -111 CINV 79.3 EQLV 293.9 EQTV 293.9 LFCT 716.9 LFCV 751.4 BRCH 32.37 BRC 35.29 CLT 290.0 CLP 912.4 MLTH 297.7 MLMR 13.49 THICK 5661 PWAT 24.03

Explanation / Answer

Lifted index is the difference in the temperature of air parcels which is lifted adiabatically and the temperature of the environment at a given height of troposphere generally 500 hpa. When this value of lifted index is positive then the atmosphere is stable whereas when this value is negative the atmosphere is unstable. This lifted index value is important in determining forecast of thunderstorms.

K index is used to calculate the convective potential of the thunderstorm in an area. It includes parameters like moisture content of the air, vertical range of the moist layer, vertical temperture lapse rate. The value of less than 20 indicates no thunderstorm and value of above 35 indicates numerous thunderstorms,

KI= (T850-T500)+Td850-(T700-Td700)

Convective available potential energy is the amount of energy required by an air parcel if it lift the air parcel at a certain vertical distance in the atmosphere. The positive buoyancy will indicate an unstable atmosphere and the atmosphere is conducive to severe weather like thunderstorms, precipitation etc.

Convective inhibition is the amount of energy a parcel of air will require to prevent convection of air. This convective inhibition is overcome by factors like convergence of air at low level, frontal lifting, heating of air at the day time, divergence of air at upper levels. The value of 0-50 indicates weak convective inhibition whereas more than 200 indicates strong convective inhibition.

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